McLaren chief executive Zak Brown has penned an open letter to supporters reflecting on the team's triumphant yet turbulent 2025 campaign, which delivered both the Drivers' and Constructors' Championships.
The American acknowledged that errors during the season handed opportunities to rivals, most notably a double disqualification at the Las Vegas Grand Prix for excessive skid wear and a tactical blunder in Qatar following an early safety car deployment.
Lando Norris also suffered a mechanical retirement at Zandvoort, whilst slow pit stops and a contentious position swap with Oscar Piastri at Monza added further complications.
Brown, however, characterised these setbacks as valuable lessons rather than failures.
Zak Brown has issued a warning to McLaren's F1 rivals
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"There were challenging moments along the way, and we definitely made some mistakes that played into the hands of our competitors - which are important to acknowledge - but these were dealt with swiftly and provided valuable lessons that made us better as a team," Brown wrote.
The McLaren boss was characteristically forthright about the realities of motorsport competition.
"We are racers and have been in this sport long enough to understand that s*** happens, and it's part of the game - what's important is how we react in these situations to help drive us forward," he stated.
"We're a relatively young team, but we learn quickly, and we bounce back with vigour and purpose.
"Championships are won by how teams respond under pressure, and I am proud of how we handled those more challenging moments."
McLaren completed a Drivers and Constructors Championship last year
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With Formula 1's substantial regulation overhaul arriving in 2026, Brown conceded that forecasting the competitive landscape remains impossible at this juncture.
"No one can possibly predict at this stage how the field will shape up," he admitted.
Nevertheless, the McLaren chief expressed conviction that the difficulties encountered during their championship campaign have strengthened the organisation's foundations.
Brown emphasised that the numerous lessons absorbed throughout 2025 form part of the team's ongoing development and will prove invaluable as they navigate the new technical era.
The Woking outfit secured its second successive Constructors' title by September's Singapore Grand Prix, demonstrating the squad's underlying pace despite occasional missteps.
Lando Norris won the World Championship last year but faces a battle to reclaim his title
|REUTERS
Brown reserved particular praise for Piastri, who finished third in the championship standings, just 11 points behind Max Verstappen after leading the title race for much of the season.
"Oscar deserves immense credit," Brown said of the young Australian. "He drove an unbelievable season.
"It's easy to forget that he has contested only three Formula 1 seasons to date - he drives with an experience and skill that belies his years and conducts himself with the utmost professionalism and respect."
The McLaren chief added: "We knew we had a star on our hands from the moment he arrived, and it has been a pleasure to watch him blossom into a title challenger in such short order.
"I have no doubt his star will continue to rise in the years to come."